Photo by Charles.

Despite the persistent rain, flash flooding, and ten million protestors gathered around the White House and National Mall, more than 16,700 people register to participant in D.C.’s Bike to Work Day last Friday.

Of course, it’s impossible to keep track of how many people who registered actually biked to work on Friday, but the number of people who registered this year is the most since Bike to Work Day was established in 2000. “Bike to Work Day is an important catalyst to getting people to think about alternatives to driving alone to work by bicycling, ridesharing, using transit, and teleworking,” said Nicholas Ramfos, Director of Commuter Connections, in a release.

For Friday’s Bike to Work Day, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s Commuter Connections program and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association—the two organizations that coordinated the event—set up 79 pit stops throughout the region. Those who said “eh, screw the rain,” and stopped at any one of the pit stops were greeted with food, prizes, giveaways, and some kind words from local politicians who also braved the rain.

“We thank cyclists, sponsors, volunteers, elected officials and dignitaries who came out in the rain to support Bike to Work Day,” Chuck Bean, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, said in a release. “The support from all registrants is appreciated, and signifies their willingness to adopt a sustainable, low-cost, healthy commuting option.”

Here’s to next year, when it will hopefully not rain again, despite what history suggests.